Comparison Table

What Is PS4 VR Headset?

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​In short, the PlayStation VR is a virtual reality headset developed by Sony.

The PS4 VR Headset is fully functional with the PlayStation 4 video game console and can output an image to both the headset and a television at the same time. The television screen displays either the picture viewed inside the headset or shows a separate image which can be useful for cooperative or competitive gameplay.

Gamers can use either the standard DualShock 4 controller or PlayStation Move controllers with PlayStation VR.

How Does PlayStation VR Work?

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​PlayStation VR produces two images simultaneously and sends them to your headset, immersing you inside the video game. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive require a more expensive graphics card, but PS4 VR achieves this using only the PlayStation 4's built-in GPU.

It works by using the PlayStation Camera to track nine separate points of light on the headset and lights on the DualShock 4 or Move controllers.

You’ll be surprised at how accurate this is considering it only uses a single camera to track the movements.

PS4 VR Specs

PlayStation VR comfortably handles 1080p games on a 920 x RGB x 1080 OLED display with a refresh rate of 90Hz or 120Hz, depending on the application or game being played.

If you’re concerned about latency, the system’s response rate is around 18ms. This is approximately 0.002 seconds quicker than the most acceptable latency before lag would be noticeable in the PS4 VR Headset.

PS4 VR Headset Design

PlayStation VR is highly for its more stylish appearance and comfortable design and really looks the part, compared with main opposition headsets the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

One crucial factor in the design of gaming headsets is a comfort, which some VR headsets fail to achieve. The PlayStation VR has an adjustable white matte strap that perfects wraps around your head and comes together at the back.

Your head holds comfortably in place by a thick cushion with a rubber finish inside the strap. The visor adjusts backwards and forwards to bring the screen into focus once the headset is on.

The head-mounted display (HMD) features seven front-facing blue lights picked up by the PlayStation Camera to track your movement and location. Sony added two extra lights to the back of the headset to account for those games which require you to turn around.

PS4 VR cleverly hangs all the weight at the top of your head, relieving any pressure from your forehead and the bridge of your nose. Some headsets feel heavy just an hour into a gaming session, but with Sony’s offering that feeling of stress and fatigue on the neck seems to go, even after playing for hours on end. If you put on the headset and it feels a little loose, you can turn a plastic dial which will tighten it up for you.

The headset has a cable trailing from the back to a small adaptor with controls for increasing a decreasing the volume on your headphones, and a power button to turn the headset on or off.

You can also wear glasses with the PS4 VR without issue, unlike the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.

PS4 VR Headset Display

​PlayStation VR has a 5.7-inch OLED screen with a 1920 x RGB x 1080 resolution inside the headset. With a 100-degree field of view, latency around 18ms, and a 120Hz refresh rate, it is much less nausea-inducing than previous versions which had a slower refresh rate and higher latency.

Of the ‘big three’ VR headsets, the Sony PlayStation VR display is lowest in quality as it uses a single 1080p, 5.7-inch OLED screen, The HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift deliver a 2,160 x 1,200 resolution to each eye.

There is no huge drop in quality between the PSVR and its main competitors, but the former can struggle with rendering details in the distance, causing objects to appear a little blurry. You will still experience great color and detail, and the games look fantastic.

PSVR also offers gamers a more comfortable and smooth virtual reality experience compared with Vive and Rift as it can render games at both 90Hz and 120Hz.

The PS4 VR Headset also has a “cinematic mode” which allows you to play regular PS4 games in three virtual screen sizes: 117 inches, 163 inches or 226 inches.

PlayStation Camera

Sony released a new PlayStation Camera for the launch of PlayStation VR. It comes with its stand which you can lower or raise, and the lenses can also tilt up or down to fit your gaming setup.

The original PlayStation Camera used to be troublesome and alter its position due to the cable being at the side. But the cable now sits at the back, making life a lot easier.

The standalone Oculus Go not only comes at a very affordable price, but the quality is almost as good as the tethered Oculus Rift VR headset.

It offers impressive visuals and a comfortable fit, with a content library already comprising over 1,000 games, apps, and movies for its users.

The Go headset has 32GB or 64GB storage options so you can decide for yourself how much space you want.

While this option is a fast and fun way to get in VR, it offers nowhere near the same comfort as PS4 VR Headset due to being front-heavy on the nose which and light leaking through the bottom may also leave you distracted.

You can get approximately two hours of game time of a full battery charge.

PROS

​Great standalone VR experience

​Very affordable price

CONS

​Sits front heavy on the face

​Distracting light leaks through the bottom

​Ease of Use ​4/5 stars

​A simple and hassle-free portable headset.

​Assembly Time 4/5 stars

​This is a standalone headset which makes for a straightforward setup.

​Design Quality 3/5 stars

It sits heavy on the face and allows light to leak in through the bottom.

HTC Vive Pro

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At one time, the HTC Vive was way ahead of the opposition and its nearest rivals, the PS4 VR Headset, and the Oculus Rift. This headset offered the most immersive virtual reality experience with room-scale tracking out of the box and two motion controllers.

Room-scale tracking allows the user to walk around an area of 4.5 x 4.5m, adding that extra dimension by letting the user move on foot and not just sit and push on a controller.

The Vive headset has two 1080p screens which create a crisp display, but the resolution is not high enough to prevent you from seeing individual pixels. However, the HTC Vive Pro has a much sharper screen with its resolution of 2880 x 1600 and a 78% increase in dots per inch.

It also has the addition of built-in audio, which the original Vive model lacked.

PROS

​Most immersive VR experience

​Requires high-end CPU

​Built-in headphones

CONS

​Expensive compared to PS4 VR Headset

​Lack of must-own gaming titles

​Ease of Use ​4/5 stars

​A higher resolution and built-in audio make the Pro version easier to use than the standard Vive.

​Assembly Time ​3/5 stars

​Once you’ve plugged the headset into the link box and connected it your PC, the setup is straightforward enough, but there is quite a lot of software to install. You firmware must also be up-to-date.

​Design Quality 4/5 stars

The Vive Pro has a solid design and offers increased comfort from its predecessor.

The Oculus Rift has gone through several upgrades over the past few years, including the addition of their Touch controllers, which many believe are the best around, and some reasonable price drops.

But the Rift falls a little short when compared with HTC Vive’s room-scale technology. The Vive is designed to let you walk around in whichever direction you choose, but with the two Rift sensors placed in front of you, the tracking is rather single-sided. This means the sensors will lose track of where you are if you let yourself get turned around.

However, the Oculus Rift somewhat makes up for this with a more affordable price, but still pricier than the PS4 VR Headset.

PROS

​Pioneers of VR

​Comfortable headset

​Some of the best VR games

CONS

​Room-scaling not as good as Vive

​Can’t use own headphones

​Minimum PC requirements

​Ease of Use ​4/5 stars

​The Oculus Rift is undoubtedly easier to set up and use than the HTC Vive.

​Assembly Time ​3/5 stars

​The entire process should take 30-60 minutes. Running through the sensor set up can be time-consuming.

​Design Quality 3/5 stars

A simple and understated headset that feels comfortable during gameplay, but looks dated when compared with PlayStation VR.

Conclusion

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​​​PlayStation VR is arguably the best virtual reality headset out there when you consider the lower price while not compromising on performance and quality.It’s not only comfortable to wear, but it also looks great, and the choice of games on offer is second to none.

The headset offers a more comfortable gaming experience than the Oculus Rift at a lower price. It may not reach the level of immersion as the HTC Vive, but it comes close and doesn’t need extra sensors or require as much space for most games.

If you’re new to virtual reality, it’s a good idea to try out the PS4 VR Headset on a demo unit. Some people experience motion sickness during VR gameplay so it’s a good idea to make sure your stomach can handle it.

PlayStation VR is the most exciting game product out there right now, and it’s reasonably priced making it our number one choice of virtual reality headset.